Patricia Urquiola studied architecture and design at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and completed her studies at the Politecnico di Milano (Technical University of Milan) where graduated under the mentorship of Achille Castiglioni. She worked with Vico Magistretti at De Padova and later as head of design at Lissoni and Partners.

In 2001 she founded her own studio in Milan, specialized in industrial product design, architecture, art direction and strategy consulting. As well as serving as creative director of Cassina since 2015, Urquiola collaborates with some of the world’s most important brands including Haworth, Louis Vuitton, B&B Italia, Moroso, Flos, Kvadrat, BMW, Starbucks and Ferrari among others.

Her work is exhibited in art and design museums across the world including the MOMA in New York, the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris, the Triennale Museum in Milan, the Vitra Design Museum in Basel, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Stedelijk Museum of modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam and the Philadelphia Art Museum.

She has given lectures at universities across the world, is part of the Advisory Board of Politecnico di Milano and the Scientific Committee of the Foundation of La Triennale Museum in Milan. She was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, conferred on her by the Spanish government.